Virginia Holds On To Beat Virginia Commonwealth

RICHMOND, Va. - Curtis Staples scored 15 of his 20 points in the first
half Saturday night and Virginia withstood a late rally by Virginia
Commonwealth for a 73-67 victory at the Robins Center.

Virginia (5-3) led by as many as 12 in the second half before the Rams (2-4)
scored six straight to get within 67-62 with 2:49 left.

After the teams traded baskets and Willie Dersch hit two free throws to give
the Cavaliers a 71-64 lead, Randy Mills' 3-pointer drew the Rams to within four
for the first time in the half, but they didn't score again.

Staples, who made seven 3-pointers when Virginia opened its season here with
an 83-79 loss to Richmond in double overtime, was 6-for-11 from 3-point range.

Dersch, held scoreless in his last two games and pulled from the starting
lineup, finished with a career-high 13 points for Virginia. Richmond native
Colin Ducharme added 12 and Norman Nolan 11 for the Cavaliers.

Mills and Melvin Drake led VCU with 18 points each and Mylo Brooks had 16.
Scott Lilly had 6 on two 3-pointers down the stretch.

The Cavaliers got seven 3-pointers in the first half, five by Staples, and
led 40-29 at the break.

The Cavaliers trailed 15-8 after about seven minutes until Staples hit his
third 3-pointer, this one from the right corner. That ignited a 16-2 run, with
Staples adding another 3 and Chezley Watson hitting one to end it.

The game was the second of three home games the Cavaliers will play at the
Robins Center this season. In the first, Richmond beat Virginia. The Cavaliers
also will host Wake Forest here on Jan. 4.